Article carrier

ABSTRACT

An article carrier may include a handle, a collapsible article holder with a pop-down base, and one or more support columns vertically connecting the handle to the base of the collapsible article holder. The collapsible article holder may have a number of openings for accepting articles. Material cut from the carrier to form the openings may form the support columns. Moreover, tabs that are connected to the material from the openings may also be cut from the carrier so as to provide a surface for gluing or otherwise affixing the support columns to the base. For openings on the extreme ends of the article holder, material cut from the carrier to form the openings may be folded towards the ends of the article holder so as to form end flaps. The end flaps facilitate preventing accidental reading of UPC barcodes or other indicia on the articles carried in the article holder.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a non-provisional application claimingpriority to provisional application Ser. No. 61/562,513, filed on Nov.22, 2011. Provisional application Ser. No. 61/562,513 is incorporatedherein by reference in full.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a collapsible article carrier. Moreparticularly, the present disclosure relates to a collapsible articlecarrier formed of a single sheet of paperboard with a pop-down base anda support column between the handle and the base.

BACKGROUND

To aid with the transport of multiple small articles, various types ofcarriers have been proposed. Some carriers may be folded into a flat orcollapsed form so as to aid in shipping or transport of the carriers.The carriers may later be manipulated so as to establish a constitutedthree dimensional form ready for acceptance of articles such as beveragecontainers, food items, or the like. For some carriers, in the processof manipulating the collapsed carrier so as to carry articles, one ormore portions of the folded carrier may cooperatively interfere with oneanother so as to form a base on which the articles may be placed.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present application provides an article carrier. Thearticle carrier may include a handle and a collapsible article holder.The collapsible article holder may include a base, a surface, and asupport column. The surface may include a defined area that is adaptedto form an opening to support an article when the collapsible articleholder is set up. The support column connects the handle to the base,wherein the support column is formed from material that is removablefrom the surface.

The present application further provides that the support column furthermay include a tab, wherein the tab is affixed to the base.

The present application further provides that the tab is integrallyformed as part of the support column.

The present application further provides that the base may include afirst surface and a second surface foldable with respect to one anotheralong a central fold line such that exterior surfaces of the first andsecond surfaces touch each other when the collapsible article holder iscollapsed.

The present application further provides an end flap formed frommaterial that is removable from a second defined area, wherein the endflap is attached to the surface and rotatable towards the end of thecollapsible article holder.

The present application provides a method of making an article carrier,including the steps of cutting a perforation in a single sheet ofmaterial for each of a number of pairs of openings, each pair ofopenings being equidistant from a central fold line in the sheet ofmaterial. The perforation for at least one of the number of pairs ofopenings may include a pair of tabs integral with material within theperforation. The method further may include folding the sheet ofmaterial about a first fold line in a z-fold. The method further mayinclude affixing a first of the pair of tabs to the folded sheet ofmaterial along the central fold line. The method further may includefolding the folded sheet of material in half. The method further mayinclude affixing a second of the pair of tabs to the sheet of materialalong the central fold line.

These and other features will be more clearly understood from thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, referenceis now made to the following brief description, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein likereference numerals represent like parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates perspective view of an exemplary carrier in acollapsed form.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the carrier in an intermediateform.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the carrier in a constitutedform.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the carrier with multiplebeverage containers contained therein.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the carrier with the handlefolded down.

FIG. 6 illustrates a blank that when constructed forms the carrier.

FIG. 6A illustrates the blank after a first gluing and z-fold operation.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a carrier according to a secondaspect of the disclosure in a collapsed form.

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of the carrier according to thesecond aspect of the disclosure in an intermediate form.

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the carrier according to thesecond aspect of the disclosure in a constituted form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It should be understood at the outset that although illustrativeimplementations of one or more embodiments are illustrated below, thedisclosed systems and methods may be implemented using any number oftechniques, whether currently known or in existence. The disclosureshould in no way be limited to the illustrative implementations,drawings, and techniques illustrated below, but may be modified withinthe scope of the appended claims along with their full scope ofequivalents.

Spatially relative terms, such as “left”, “right”, “beneath”, “below”,“bottom”, “lower”, “above”, “upper”, “top”, and the like, may be usedherein for ease of description to describe one element or feature'srelationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in thefigures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms areintended to encompass different orientations of the device in additionto the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the devicein the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or“beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” theother elements or features.

Referring to FIGS. 1-9, views of an exemplary article carrier 100 areshown. As described in more detail below, the carrier 100 may be formedfrom a single piece of paperboard. The paperboard may be folded andglued together into a flat or collapsed form so as to facilitateshipping or transport of the carrier 100. The collapsed carrier 100 maybe manipulated so as to form a constituted three dimensional form thatis ready for acceptance of articles 126. As described in detail below,the carrier 100 may have a pop-down base that is vertically connected tothe handle 102 of the carrier 100 via one or more support columns 110.

Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of the carrier 100 is shown in acollapsed form. The carrier 100 includes a handle 102 and a hand hold104 to facilitate carrying of the carrier 100 when articles 126 areloaded into the carrier 100. When the carrier 100 is set up to acceptarticles 126 and/or after articles 126 have been loaded into the carrier100, the handle 102 may be folded down, as best seen in FIG. 5. The handhold 104 may be perforated so as to enable an end-user to punch out thepaperboard in the hand hold 104 and insert their hand, as best seen inFIG. 4. The hand hold 104 may only perforated around three of the foursides so that the paperboard in the hand hold 104 may be folded downupon a user inserting their hand into the hand hold 104. Alternatively,the hand hold 104 may have the fold be at the top of the hand hold 104so that the perforated portions of the hand hold 104 fold up, ratherthan folding down. As a further alternative, the hand hold 104 may beperforated around all four sides so that the paperboard in the handle102 may be removed from the carrier 100.

While the hand hold 104 is shown with the paperboard in the hand hold104 affixed to the carrier 100, one or more portions of the hand hold104 may be knocked out during the die cut process. In some embodiments,the hand hold 104 may not have any perforated portions affixed to thecarrier, but instead may simply have the desired areas of the hand hold104 knocked out during the die cut process when manufacturing thecarrier 100.

While the hand hold 104 is shown with a rectangular shape, one ofordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that any shape may beused. For example, contoured shapes may be used to ergonomically fit thecontours of a person's hand and/or fingers.

The carrier 100 also includes a riser 106. When the carrier 100 isloaded with articles 126, such as beverage containers, the riser 106acts as a spacer so as to reduce interference between a user's hand inthe hand hold 104 and the articles 126 carried by the carrier 100. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 4, the carrier 100 may be loaded with beveragecontainers, such as beverage cans. The riser 106 may be sized such thatthe top of the riser 106 corresponds with the top of the beverage cans.For other intended articles 126, the riser 106 may similarly be sized.Accordingly, upon insertion of a user's hand into the hand hold 104 ofthe handle 102, the user's hand may not interfere or minimally interferewith the articles 126 in the carrier 100. While handle 102 may befoldable at the intersection of the handle 102 and the riser 106, insome embodiments the handle 102 may not be foldable at the intersectionof the handle 102 and the riser 106. When the handle 102 is not foldableat the intersection of the handle 102 and the riser 106, the riser 106may be considered part of the handle 102. In some embodiments, thecarrier 100 may not include a riser 106.

As shown in FIGS. 2-5, the carrier 100 may be manipulated so as to forman article holder 107. The article holder 107 is connected to the handle102 and/or riser 106. The article holder 107 may include a first topsurface 108, a second top surface 124, a first side surface 114, asecond side surface 116, a first bottom surface 118, and a second bottomsurface 120. The bottom surfaces 118, 120 may collectively form a base121 of the article holder 107. In some embodiments each of the surfaces108, 124, 114, 116, 118, 120 of the article holder 107 may be equallysized surfaces. Alternatively, one or more of the surfaces 108, 124,114, 116, 118, 120 of the article holder 107 may be differently sized.For example, the first side surface 114 and second side surface 116 maybe smaller or larger than the first top surface 108, second top surface124, first bottom surface 118, and second bottom surface 120, which inturn may all be about the same size.

In some aspects of the disclosure, the top surfaces 108, 124 and theside surfaces 114, 116 of the article holder 107 may form a contiguoussurface. For example, as best seen in FIGS. 7-9, arched surfaces 134 mayconnect the handle 102 or riser 106 with the bottom surfaces 118, 120 ofthe article holder 107 and support the articles 126. Similarly, othershapes and contours may be used to form a supporting structure for thearticles 126 that connects the handle 102 and/or riser 106 with thebottom surfaces 118, 120 of the article holder 107.

The article holder 107 also includes a number of openings 122 on each ofthe top surfaces 108,124 that are sized and shaped for holding desiredarticles 126. For example, as shown in the figures, the openings 122 maybe circular openings 122 sized for holding a beverage can. One ofordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the shape of theopenings 122 may be varied as needed to accept desired articles 126. Forexample, the openings 122 may be oval, rectangular, or any other shapethat would correspond or otherwise support desired articles 126. Forexample, the openings 122 may have more complex shapes such as stars,sun bursts, waves, or other complex shapes that partially or otherwisesufficiently interface, contact, or frictionally interfere with thearticles 126 so as to support the articles 126 in the carrier 100.

For the openings 122 along the interior of the top surfaces 108, 124(e.g. openings 122 that are not on an extreme end of the top surfaces108, 124), the paperboard material from the interior of the openings 122form support columns 110. The support columns 110 vertically connect thehandle 102 and/or riser 106 to the base 121 of the article holder 107.The support columns 110 may be connected to the base 121 at the middleof the base 121 along a fold line, as will be described in more detailbelow. Therefore, when articles 126 are loaded into the article holder107 and the carrier 100 is lifted by the handle 102, the weight of thearticles 126 is supported by the base 121 which is in turn supported bythe support columns 110 and the handle 102 and/or riser 106. Byconnecting the base 121 to the handle 102 via the support columns 110,the base 121 is prevented from substantially deforming when the carrier100 is lifted by the handle 102. In other words, while the base maydeform to a certain extent when the carrier 100 is lifted by the handle102, the base 121 will largely retain its shape and will not bow orotherwise deform in the middle of the base 121. Therefore, the articles126 may be supported by the base 121 and may be prevented from movingaround in the openings 122 or falling out of the bottom of the openings122 due to deformation of the base 121.

For the openings 122 at the extreme ends of the top surfaces 108, 124,the paperboard material from the interior of the openings 122 may folddown towards the end of the top surfaces 108, 124 as best seen in FIGS.4 and 5 and form end flaps 112. Alternatively, the paperboard materialfrom the openings 122 at the extreme ends of the top surfaces 108, 124may form additional support columns 110.

The end flaps 112 may fully or partially block machine readable codes orindicia that may be printed on the articles 126 so as to prevent readingof the codes or indicia on the articles 126. For example, the articles126 may have a barcode, a 2-D barcode, or other such machine readableprinted indicia that may represent numbers or codes that identify thearticles 126. For example, a bar code may represent a universal productcode (UPC) that identifies the articles 126 as being a particularproduct, such as 12 oz. cans of Coca-Cola®.

If the carrier 100 is used in a retail environment, the carrier 100 mayinclude its own UPC barcode or other indicia. The cost for purchasing asingle one of the articles 126 will likely be less than the cost forpurchasing the group of articles 126 carried in the carrier 100.Therefore, when checking out, it is desired to ensure that the machinereadable code or indicia on the carrier 100 is read and the codes orindicia on the articles 126 are not read so that the correct amount maybe charged to a customer. The end flaps 112 may facilitate preventing ofreading the codes or indicia printed on the articles 126 so that thecustomer is not undercharged for the articles 126 in the carrier 100.

As noted above, the carrier may initially be in a collapsed or flat formand may be manipulated so as to be in a constituted form ready foracceptance of articles 126. In the flat form, the top surfaces 108, 124are folded together and have inside surfaces that touch one another.Similarly, the bottom surfaces 118, 120 are folded together and haveexternal surfaces that touch one another. The side surfaces 114, 116 arefolded together with the bottom surfaces 118, 120 such that the insidesurfaces of the side surfaces 114, 116 touch the inside surfaces of thebottom surfaces 118, 120. In the collapsed form, the handle 102 is inline with the riser 106, which is in turn in line with the folded topsurfaces 108, 124, which is in line with the folded side and bottomsurfaces 114, 116, 118, 120.

For clarity, an inside surface refers to a surface that is internal toor enclosed by or inside the cross-sectional shape formed by the articleholder 107 when it is set up to receive articles 126. In contrast, anexternal surface refers to a surface that is external to or outside ofthe cross-sectional shape formed by the article holder 107 when it isset up to receive articles 126.

In the aspect of the disclosure shown in FIG. 7, the carrier 100 doesnot have side surfaces 114,116. However, a first area of the archedsurfaces 134 that correspond to the top surfaces 108, 124 are foldedtogether and have inside surfaces that touch one another. Similarly, asecond area of the arched surfaces 134 that correspond to the sidesurfaces 114, 116 are folded together such that the inside surfaces ofthe arched surface 134 touch the inside surfaces of the bottom surfaces118, 120. In some instances, the first area of the arched surfaces 134may be the area between the connection with the handle 102 and/or riser106 and the apex of the curve formed by the arched surfaces 134 orotherwise at a halfway point along the arched surfaces 134. As shown inFIG. 9, the first area of the arched surfaces 134 is generallyhorizontal. Similarly, the second area of the arched surfaces 134 may bethe area between the connection with the base 121 and the apex of thecurve formed by the arched surfaces 134 or otherwise at a halfway pointalong the arched surfaces 134. As shown in FIG. 9, the second area ofthe arched surfaces 134 is generally vertical.

In order to facilitate setting up the article holder 107 of the carrier100, the base 121 may be formed as a pop-down base or vertically formingbase. From the collapsed form shown in FIG. 1, the carrier 100 may bemanipulated so as to form the article holder 107 by separating the lineof intersection between the first side surface 114 and the first bottomsurface 118 from the line of intersection between the second sidesurface 116 and the second bottom surface 120. In other words, thecarrier 100 may be unfolded so as to separate each of the surfaces 108,124, 114, 116, 118, 120 of the article holder 107 away from each otherso that none of the interior or exterior surfaces of the article holder107 are touching. Note that while the interior or exterior surfaces areno longer touching, each of the surfaces is still joined together at acorner or along a line.

Referring to FIG. 2, a perspective view of the carrier 100 in anintermediate form is shown. When in an intermediate form, the articleholder 107 has a concave hexagon cross-sectional shape. In someembodiments, the article holder 107 in the intermediate form has aconcave equilateral hexagon cross-sectional shape. The top surfaces 108,124 and the bottom surfaces 118, 120 parallel each other and are at anacute angle to the plane of the handle 102. Moreover, the side surfaces114, 116 and the top surfaces 108, 124 are joined together at an obtuseangle, whereas the side surfaces 114, 116 and the bottom surfaces 118,120 are joined together at an acute angle.

Similarly, in the aspect of the disclosure shown in FIG. 8, the articleholder 107 has a roughly concave quadrilateral cross-sectional shape inthe intermediate form. However, due to the lack of side surfaces 114,116 and due to the arched surfaces 134 being longer than the bottomsurfaces 118, 120, the cross-sectional shape takes on a curved shapealong two of the sides such that the cross-sectional shape in theintermediate form may also be described as an arrow-head shape. Moregenerally, as applied to all of the aspects of the disclosure, thecross-sectional shape of the article holder 107 in the intermediate formmay be a concave polygon or other concave closed shape.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, perspective views of the carrier 100 in aconstituted form are shown. In the constituted form, the top surfaces108, 124 are parallel to each other and parallel to the bottom surfaces118, 120. The top surfaces 108, 124 may be joined to the handle 102and/or riser 106 at approximately right angles. The side surfaces 114,116 are joined together with each of the top and bottom surfaces 108,124, 118, 120 at approximately right angles. While various surfaces ofthe article holder 107 in the constituted form are described above asbeing joined at approximately right angles, there may be smallvariations in the angles between surfaces of about 5° to 10° or less dueto bending or flexing of the paperboard. In other words, thecross-sectional shape of the article holder 107 in the constituted formis rectangular. Similarly, in the aspect of the disclosure shown in FIG.9, the article holder 107 in the constituted form has a cross-sectionalshape of a semi-circle.

Referring to FIG. 6 a blank is shown that, when glued and foldedtogether, forms the carrier 100. As shown in FIG. 6, the carrier 100 maybe formed of a single sheet of paperboard or other material andassembled or manufactured with just two gluing operations and twofolding operations. Each of the solid lines represents a fold point andeach of the dotted lines represents a perforation.

As best seen in FIG. 6, each of the support columns 110 may have a tab132 cut out from a portion of the side surfaces 114, 116 or the archedsurface 134. The tab 132 is integrally formed as part of the paperboardmaterial cut from the openings 122 to form the support columns 110.While not shown, in some embodiments, a corresponding tab may also becut out and knocked out during the die cut process from the end flaps112 so as to present a uniform look to the carrier 100. While shown as agenerally square shape, the tabs 132 may take any shape, such as asemi-circle, a wave, or the like. As described in more detail below,each of the tabs 132 may be glued or otherwise affixed to thecorresponding one of the bottom surfaces 118, 120 about or along thecenter point fold line 127. Accordingly, the tabs 132 secure the supportcolumns 110 to the base 121.

In some embodiments, the support columns 110 and/or the end flaps 112may not have a perforation along the dotted line, but instead may be cutfree from the blank so as to freely move within the openings 122 androtate about the solid lines connecting the support columns 110 and theend flaps 112 to the carrier 100.

In some embodiments, one or more portions of the support columns 110and/or end flaps 112 may be knocked out during the die cut process. Forexample, various knockout patterns for the support columns 110 and endflaps 112 are shown with dash-dot lines. The portion(s) of the supportcolumns 110 and end flaps 112 separated from the solid lines connectingthe support columns 110 and the end flaps 112 to the carrier 100 by thedash-dot lines may be knocked out during the die cut process. Forexample, the support columns 110 may have knockout patterns such that onone or both sides of the tabs 132 portions of the paperboard materialfrom the openings 122 may be knocked out. Similarly, portions along thebottom edge and/or along one and/or both side edges of the end flaps 112may be knocked out during the die cut process. While the knockoutpatterns shown in FIG. 6 are illustrated with straight lines, one ofordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the knockoutpatterns may follow curved or other complex paths or contours. Moreover,while different knockout patterns are shown in FIG. 6 for illustrativepurposes for each of the support columns 110, the same knockout patternmay be used for all of the support columns 110 to simplify the die usedto form the carrier 100. Similarly, the same knockout patter may be usedfor all of the end flaps 112.

As noted above, the carrier 100 may be constructed or manufactured fromthe blank with just two gluing operations and two folding operations,representing a significant cost savings from both the lower complexityand the shorter amount of time required to manufacture the carrier 100.Following the die cut process, a first gluing operation may place glueor other adhesive on the tabs 132 of the support columns 110. After thefirst gluing operation, a first folding operation may fold the centerpoint fold line 127 about the three-eighths point fold line 128 so as tojoin the center point fold line 127 and the one-quarter point fold line130. At the same time the remaining portions of the blank to the rightof the center point fold line 127 may be folded back so as to remainparallel to the portions of the blank to the left of the three-eighthspoint fold line 128. In some embodiments, the first folding operationmay be referred to as a z-fold operation.

After the first gluing operation and the z-fold operation, theconstruction or manufacture of the carrier 100 may be completed in asecond gluing and a second folding operation. FIG. 6A illustrates theblank after a first gluing and z-fold operation. In the second gluingoperation, glue or other adhesive is applied to the left of thethree-eighths fold line 131 on the entire surface of the handle 102,hand hold 104, and riser 106, and the portions of the support columns110 that were not knocked out during the die cut process. Glue or otheradhesive is also applied to the right of the three-eighths fold line 131on the tabs 132, the portions of the support columns 110 that were notknocked out during the die cut process, and the entire surface of thehandle 102, hand hold 104, and riser 106. In some embodiments, the glueor other adhesive may not be applied to the portions of the supportcolumns 110 that were not knocked out during the die cut process, butinstead is only applied to the tabs 132. After the second gluingoperation, in the second folding operation, the blank is simply foldedin half about the three-eighths point fold line 131.

While the carrier 100 is shown in the figures as having openings 122 forcarrying four articles 126 on each side of the carrier 100, one ofordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the carrier 100may be modified to carry any number of articles 126 on each side of thecarrier 100 and still be considered to be within the spirit and scope ofthis disclosure. For example, for more than four articles 126 on eachside of the carrier 100, additional support columns 110 andcorresponding openings 122 may be added to the carrier. As shown inFIGS. 7-9, for three or fewer articles 126 on each side of the carrier100, there may only be support columns 110 and no end flaps 112.Alternatively, for three articles 126 on each side of the carrier, theremay be only one support column 110 and two end flaps 112 on each side ofthe carrier 100.

While the support columns 110 are described above as being formed fromthe paperboard material cut out of the openings 122 and the tabs 132, insome embodiments, the support columns 110 may be formed from paperboardmaterial cut out from between the openings 122 or along any otherportion or combination of portions of the top and side surfaces 108,124, 114, 116 or along any other portion of the first and second areasof the arched surfaces 134. In further embodiments, the support columns110 may be formed of separate pieces of paperboard that are glued orotherwise affixed to the carrier 100 so as to connect the base 121 withthe handle 102 and/or riser 106.

While the blank shown in FIG. 6 corresponds to the carrier 100 shown inFIGS. 1-5, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize thatthe features of the blank described above may equally be applied toblanks to form the aspect of the disclosure shown in FIGS. 7-9. Forexample, a blank for the aspect of the disclosure shown in FIGS. 7-9 maybe similarly formed, but without the one-quarter point fold line 130 oneither side of the center point fold line 127.

While the carrier 100 is described herein as being glued together atcertain locations on the paperboard, one of ordinary skill in the artwill readily recognize that the carrier may otherwise be adhered oraffixed together using any glue, resin, epoxy, clip, fastener, rivet, orother mechanical and/or chemical agent.

Although the carrier 100 is described herein as being formed ofpaperboard, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize thatthe carrier may be formed of any material such as paper, cardboard,plastic, metal, or any other rigid or semi-rigid foldable material. Forsome rigid materials such as metals, the carrier 100 may be formed ofmultiple sheets of material affixed together at fold points by one ormore hinges or other attachment mechanisms that facilitate rotationrelative to two sheets of material.

Although several aspects of the disclosure have been provided above, itshould be understood that the disclosed systems and methods may beembodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spiritor scope of the present disclosure. The present examples are to beconsidered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the intention is notto be limited to the details given herein. For example, the variouselements or components from one or more of the above described aspectsof the disclosure may be combined or integrated together or in anothersystem or certain features may be omitted or not implemented. Similarly,any of the various element or components described in conjunction withone of the above aspects of the disclosure may be combined with orreplace corresponding elements or components of any of the other aspectsof the disclosure. Other replacement or swapping of components orelements of the various aspects of the disclosure will be readilyapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and are fully contemplatedby this disclosure.

Also, techniques, systems, subsystems, and methods described andillustrated in the various embodiments as discrete or separate may becombined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, ormethods without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.Other items shown or discussed as directly coupled or communicating witheach other may be indirectly coupled or communicating through someinterface, device, or intermediate component, whether electrically,mechanically, or otherwise. Other examples of changes, substitutions,and alterations are ascertainable by one skilled in the art and could bemade without departing from the spirit and scope disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An article carrier, comprising: a handle; and acollapsible article holder comprising: a base, a surface comprising adefined area that is adapted to form an opening to support an articlewhen the collapsible article holder is set up, and a support columnconnecting the handle to the base, wherein the support column is formedfrom material that is removable from the surface.
 2. The article carrierof claim 1, wherein the support column is formed from material that isremovable from the surface within the defined area.
 3. The articlecarrier of claim 1, wherein the defined area on the surface is definedby a perforated line in the surface.
 4. The article carrier of claim 1,wherein the support column further comprises a tab, wherein the tab isaffixed to the base.
 5. The article carrier of claim 4, wherein the tabis integrally formed as part of the support column.
 6. The articlecarrier of claim 4, wherein the surface of the collapsible article is atop surface and the collapsible article further comprises a side wall.7. The article carrier of claim 6, wherein the tab is formed frommaterial removable from the side wall.
 8. The article carrier of claim4, wherein the surface of the article holder comprises a first area anda second area, wherein the support column is formed from materialremovable from the first area and the tab is formed from materialremovable from the second area.
 9. The article carrier of claim 8,wherein the surface is a curved surface coupled between the base and thehandle, and wherein the first area of the surface is between the handleand the apex of the curved surface and the second area of the surface isbetween the base and the apex of the curved surface.
 10. The articlecarrier of claim 1, further comprising: a riser coupled between thehandle and the collapsible article holder.
 11. The article carrier ofclaim 4, wherein the base comprises a first surface and a second surfacefoldable with respect to one another along a central fold line such thatexterior surfaces of the first and second surfaces touch each other whenthe collapsible article holder is collapsed.
 12. The article carrier ofclaim 11, wherein the tab is affixed to the base along the central foldline.
 13. The article carrier of claim 1, wherein the surface furthercomprises a second defined area at an end of the collapsible articleholder, the second defined area is adapted to form an opening to supportan article when the collapsible article holder is set up.
 14. Thearticle carrier of claim 13, wherein the collapsible article holderfurther comprises: an end flap formed from material that is removablefrom the second defined area, wherein the end flap is attached to thesurface and rotatable towards the end of the collapsible article holder.15. A method of making an article carrier, comprising: cutting aperforation in a single sheet of material for each of a plurality ofpairs of openings, each pair of openings being equidistant from acentral fold line in the sheet of material; wherein the perforation forat least one of the plurality of pairs of openings comprises a pair oftabs integral with material within the perforation; folding the sheet ofmaterial about a first fold line in a z-fold; affixing a first of thepair of tabs to the folded sheet of material along the central foldline; folding the folded sheet of material in half; and affixing asecond of the pair of tabs to the sheet of material along the centralfold line.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: knocking outa portion of the material within one or more of the plurality of pairsof openings.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the perforation for atleast one of the plurality of pairs of openings is at an end of thearticle carrier and is perforated such that material within theperforation folds toward the end of the article carrier when removedfrom the pair of openings.
 18. The method of claim 15, furthercomprising: cutting a pair of perforations in the sheet of material fora hand hold on a handle of the article carrier.
 19. The method of claim18, wherein the pair of perforations for the hand hold are at a pointfurther from the central fold line than the perforation for each of theplurality of pairs of openings.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein theperforation in the sheet of material for each of the plurality of pairsof openings defines an open shape.